Cyclones trounce Lawrence Academy in opener, 36-6

MERRY HILL — The Community Christian School eight-player football team kicked off its 2018 season with a resounding 36-6 victory over Colonial Carolina Conference opponent Lawrence Academy.

Although against a conference opponent, the game will not count in the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association CCC Division II standings. That game will come Oct. 19 on the home field of the Cyclones.

But for Friday’s purposes, CCS scored the game’s first 28 points and never looked back. Senior Gavin Wiley ran for three touchdowns and threw for another, while sophomore Tyrik Fate added an 86-yard scoring burst in the opening quarter.

CCS amassed 248 yards of rushing offense, with Wiley accounting for 111 of that total on 23 carries.

The Cyclones took an 8-0 lead on Wiley’s two-yard plunge. Senior quarterback Reece Bartlett added on the two-point conversion. Later, Fate outran the Lawrence defense on his way to his 86-yard TD.

CCS took a 20-0 lead on Wiley’s second score, a 4-yard plunge. Later in the second quarter, Wiley plowed in again, this time from three yards out. Bartlett found junior Dylan Manning for the two-point conversion to make it 28-0.

Leading 28-6 at the half, the Cyclones accounted for the final margin on Wiley’s 13-yard pass to Manning on the halfback option. Wiley added the two-point conversion to complete the scoring.

CCS was credited with 34 minutes, 7 seconds of possession time.

After an open date next week, the Cyclones face Belhaven Pungo Christian in their home opener Friday, Sept. 7. It will serve as a nonconference encounter before the league game two weeks later.